Latest news with #Sussexes'
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
‘Meghan doesn't play the community game': Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Montecito neighbours speak out
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Montecito neighbours have taken aim at the Sussexes for doing little for the 'community' despite using the town for their money-making ventures. Markle, 43, and Harry, 40, live in a sprawling Montecito property that boasts both ocean and mountain views, which has formed a backdrop for many of their projects since leaving the royal family. Most recently, Markle rented a second Montecito home to film Netflix cooking series With Love, Meghan. Despite living in the exclusive coastal enclave for almost five years, Montecito local Richard Mineards claimed Markle 'doesn't play the community game'. 'She cultivates a very controlled image. She pays attention to every appearance, every word, every gesture,' he told Ici Paris. 'And here in Montecito, we appreciate simple people, even famous ones. 'Oprah Winfrey, for example, shows up at charity events. Meghan doesn't play the community game.' The Sussexes originally snapped up their 16-bedroom estate in the idyllic community for about AUD $21 million in June 2020 but appear to have made few connections in the area. Although Montecito is also home to a few A-list stars, namely Oprah Winfrey, the community is located more than a two-hour drive from the bright lights of Hollywood. While Mr Mineards claimed Meghan showed little interest in the community, the Duke of Sussex is noticeably more willing to engage with locals. '(Harry) is always charming, approachable, with that very recognisable Windsor accent,' he said. 'He smiles, shakes hands, willingly exchanges a few words. 'We've seen him at the beach, in an organic coffee shop, or cycling in the hills.' The update comes almost two years after an elderly veteran living in Harry and Meghan's street claimed he was flatly turned away at the gate to the Sussexes' compound. United States Navy veteran Frank McGinity claimed his attempts to introduce himself to the couple and gift them a film about the local area failed after he was "turned away". 'Harry and Meghan live on old McCormick property and I went up to their gate with the films on a CD, but they weren't interested,' he told the local newspaper Montecito Journal in July 2023. "The gate guy turned me away and wouldn't take the film, just saying 'they're not interested'. I was trying to be neighbourly."
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Telltale sign Meghan Markle may have lied about her 'garden haul' of fruit and vegetables
Royal fans have spotted a telltale sign Meghan Markle may have lied about her "garden haul" of fruit and vegetables on social media. On Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to share a snap of the Sussexes' beagle Mia sniffing a basket of produce allegedly plucked from the ex-working royal's garden in Montecito, California. "The unofficial quality inspector of this morning's garden haul," she wrote in the caption. The basket contained a fresh harvest of broccoli, carrots, corn, red peppers, squash, and spring onions, along with a variety of fresh herbs. However, eagle-eyed royal watchers quickly took to social media to claim some of the vegetables were not currently in season. "Huh. She's so good at gardening she can grow all things from all seasons at once," one person said. Other people claimed May was too early in the year to harvest most of the crops in the basket. They then speculated Meghan may have sourced the vegetables from her local grocery store or farmer's market rather than her own garden. "The only place I see all that in season is the grocery store produce section," one person person said. "It's way too early in the season for most of those vegetables to be grown in her garden and ready to pick," another person said. "Who is harvesting corn in May? It's pretty early for squash and peppers, too," one more person said. Other people suggested it was odd there was no dirt on the vegetables. "I've never seen vegetables so clean after harvesting," said one person. "No dirt?" said another bemused person. Sweet corn can be harvested in California from June through to October, according to the California Farmland Trust. This means it may have been slightly too early in the year for Meghan to grow the crop. Brocolli harvesting ideally occurs much earlier in the year, from January through March. Spring onions, peppers, and certain types of squash may be ready for harvesting now. In recent months, Meghan has been prominent on social media. Picture: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell In recent months, Meghan has been prominent on social media after launching a lifestyle series on Netflix, With Love, Meghan, a lifestyle brand, As Ever, and a podcast show, Confessions of a Female Founder. With Love, Meghan will return for more episodes while the podcast wrapped up after just eight episodes on Tuesday. As Ever, formerly known as American Riviera Orchard, remains uncertain after a brief launch saw Markle Markle's jam 'sell out' within minutes. has contacted the Sussex's representatives for comment.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
'Incredibly lonely': Meghan Markle's emotional reveal hints at 'rumored separation' with Prince Harry
There is potentially yet another stumble in the way of the British royal family. Royal admirers better embrace themselves, because yet another royal rumble is about to happen – if it hasn't happened already. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are heading for 'permanent separation'. Yes, you read that right. Read on to know more. What's happening? Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly struggling to rehabilitate their public image after suffering a drop in recent popularity polls. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary earlier this month, have faced negative publicity, particularly in Britain, with the latest YouGov poll showing Meghan's popularity in the UK has plummeted to its lowest point since tracking began in 2017. Meanwhile, Prince Harry, too, is said to have grown "increasingly weary" of the unfavourable coverage and the couple's declining popularity. In this scenario, the Sussex Royals are keen on creating their own 'royal' household structure. While doing so, the couple is heading for a permanent separation – not in their personal lives, but in their professional endeavors. What is a professional separation ? 'Professional separation', refers to the ending of an employment relationship between an employee and their employer, essentially meaning when someone leaves their job, whether by resigning, being terminated, retiring, or due to other reasons; it signifies the formal conclusion of their professional connection with the company. The separated approach: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear to be adopting the same trusted methods as the monarchy to build their business and philanthropic interests. The ex-royals, who stepped down as senior royals in early 2020, have dramatically revamped their staff structure to mirror the hierarchical system that has underpinned the monarchy for decades. Meghan and Harry are reportedly set to have their own chief of staffs as part of this new arrangement, which represents a significant shift from their previous reliance on informal joint advisers. Who will be responsible for this approach? Reportedly, Meredith Kendall Maines, a seasoned communications strategist whose role has drawn comparisons with Sir Clive Alderton, the Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla, is going to be at the helm of this new operation. She will lead a team of 11 staff operating out of Montecito, California, and the UK. This restructuring will operate separately from Archewell, the Sussexes' philanthropic foundation, and each senior appointee in the new household is set to reportedly earn a six-figure salary. The key figures: What we know so far is, Miranda Barbot, a veteran political and media adviser who helped re-elect US President Barack Obama in 2012, will be leading Team Harry. She has been with the Sussexes since 2022 and successfully managed their three-day trip to Nigeria last year, which was reportedly "controlled skilfully". On the other hand, Sarah Fosmo, formerly an aide to Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, will focus on supporting Meghan. The 45-year-old's appointment was announced this month, and she will oversee what has been described as a "dynamic period of growth" for the duchess. The future of the Sussex Royals: Prince Harry is set to launch his own as-yet-undisclosed commercial venture in the coming months. While he will continue to focus on the Invictus Games Foundation, sources indicate he has "commercial ideas of his own" that will be revealed later this year. As per a source, reported by GB News, "Harry is unkindly described as the 'spare' to Meghan's endeavours. The source added, "In reality, he has been giving her the space to flourish. Now it is his time to throw himself into exciting new work. Invictus will always come first, but he has also been working on commercial ideas of his own." Is Meghan feeling 'lonely' due to the separation? While the new approach and arrangements are being done, keeping their professional and financial success and the rehabilitation and restoration of their public image, Meghan Markle has admitted to being 'incredibly lonely' following reports of her 'professional separation' from Prince Harry. Meghan recently spoke about how running a business can be 'incredibly lonely'. On her podcast 'Confessions of a Female Founder', the Duchess of Sussex said, 'When you only have yourself to answer to, I think it's two-fold.' While she called the experience 'incredibly liberating,' she also admitted that it made her feel 'incredibly lonely' as well. Harry and Meghan Not On The Same Page? Parenting Styles At Odds In Montecito | WATCH
Edinburgh Live
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Prince Harry's 'unfortunate' nickname that he gave himself as he's compared to Meghan Markle
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Prince Harry, who ironically dubbed himself the 'spare' in his 2023 memoir, is now reportedly facing mockery with the same moniker. Despite focusing on his Invictus Games Foundation and exploring "commercial ideas of his own," a Daily Mail source revealed that he's been mockingly referred to as the 'spare' to Meghan's projects. To bolster both the Duchess of Sussex's initiatives and Prince Harry's efforts, the couple have put together a "royal-style" entourage of seasoned professionals. This move is seen as an attempt to mitigate the negative media coverage that has plagued the Sussexes, particularly Meghan, whose ventures have been criticised as "unrelatable" and "out of touch." The newly formed Team Sussex faces the task of promoting Prince Harry's business pursuits as he seeks a "new purpose" after his contentious exit from the African charity Sentebale. (Image: undefined via Getty Images) Prince Harry has expressed his desire for family reconciliation and his love for returning to the UK, but cited security concerns as a barrier. He told the BBC that despite his wish to reconcile, the King won't communicate with him due to "won't speak to me because of this security stuff." A legal expert has commented on Prince Harry's recent court challenge, highlighting that the prince "felt badly treated by the system," while the Duke himself labelled his court defeat as a "good old fashioned establishment stitch up." Buckingham Palace, in an unusual step, issued a forthright statement: "All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion." (Image: undefined via Getty Images) The Sussexes' new 11-member team, led by seasoned communications strategist Meredith Kendall Maines, aims to sway public opinion back towards the couple and facilitate a more amicable relationship between Prince Harry and the Royal Family. However, Royal commentator Tom Bower sharply criticised the Sussexes' latest appointments during his conversation with GB News. He said: "Undoubtedly, the Sussexes would like to rule over a 'royal court' from their Montecito mansion," he remarked. "Competing with Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace would delight Meghan. "But what the Sussexes have assembled is not a 'royal court'." He continued: "Rather, it's a hugely expensive group of bureaucrats signalling the Sussexes' final, desperate bid to save their brand."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle admits to shattered dreams of royal motherhood while experts question Sussex family choices
Meghan Markle is reflecting on how royal motherhood could have been different for her, but for several royal experts, it's too little, too late. On Tuesday's episode of her podcast, "Confessions of a Female Founder," the Duchess of Sussex admitted that things didn't pan out how she would have liked. "I will say… I've always wanted to be a mom," the 43-year-old shared. "I was like, 'Oh gosh, I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip.' I had a whole vision. Granted, I had a lot of external things happening by the time I had both pregnancies and both babies. But it was not the way I envisioned it." Meghan Markle's 'Avalanche Of Missteps' Make It A Struggle To Win Back The Public: Experts Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that the British royal family had their own vision for the Sussexes — that their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, would learn about their British heritage. "What is certain is that the rift caused by the Sussexes' behavior and their brutal attacks on the royal family will make it difficult for Prince Archie and Princess Lili to have contact with their royal relatives," Fitzwilliams claimed. Read On The Fox News App WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE 'MOVED ON' FROM ROYAL FAMILY DRAMA, AUTHOR CLAIMS "The Sussexes claimed the palace establishment worked against them," he said. "There is no doubt that Meghan [and her sister-in-law] Kate [Middleton] had very different roles and temperaments. [But] the stresses the Sussexes said they experienced and their unhappiness with their roles only intensified. And in 'Spare,' Prince Harry personally attacked several influential courtiers." Meghan, a former American actress, became the Duchess of Sussex when she married the British prince in 2018. They welcomed their son while they were still senior members of the royal family. The couple brought their son, now 6, with them on a royal tour of Africa in 2019 and introduced him to Bishop Desmond Tutu. But then in 2020, the couple announced they were stepping back as senior royals, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace. That year, they moved to California. In 2021, they welcomed their daughter Lilibet. Since their royal exit, the "Suits" alum has shared limited photos and videos of her kids without showing their faces. The couple also doesn't take them to public events where they could be photographed by paparazzi. "When Harry married Meghan, it was widely thought that her experience on the red carpet as the star of 'Suits' and her public speaking as a campaigner meant that, stressful though it was, royal life would be easier for her," Fitzwilliams explained. "How wrong the pundits were. Her wish for privacy in the period surrounding Archie's birth may have been understandable, but meant her relations with the press took a dive." Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter "The Sussexes' obsession with privacy has subsequently been lampooned since they are so selective," he claimed. "Archie was born in May 2019, and by September, the Sussexes had gone public with their unhappiness with their royal roles when on tour in South Africa." After the royal couple's exit, they went on to air their grievances in interviews and a Netflix series. Harry's 2023 tell-all memoir "Spare," loaded with embarrassing details about the House of Windsor, only worsened the rift. "The distance between the Sussex children and their English heritage didn't originate with the royal family," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital. "[The royal family] have done their utmost to take the high road, despite a constant bombardment of criticism. Over time, the 'proof is in the pudding,' as the British say. The dedication to duty by all the senior royals has won over the public." Fordwich claimed that the ongoing rift, as well as the "different paths chosen by Harry and Meghan," is something that the royals "have come to reluctantly accept." "While the royal family has not publicly responded to Meghan's latest reflections, as with most issues, they are [aligned] with the British public," Fordwich claimed. She pointed out that polls in the country have "Meghan and Harry at the bottom." Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News On May 2, Harry declared in an interview with the BBC that he wanted to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle over his publicly funded security, which he said led his father, King Charles III, to stop talking to him. The monarch, 76, is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer. "I would love reconciliation with my family," said Harry, 40. "There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don't know how much longer my father has… He won't speak to me because of this security stuff." Harry, who has been estranged from his family since his royal exit, said the court verdict meant it would be impossible to safely bring his family back to the U.K. The prince said repeatedly that the decision to withdraw his security had been made at the direction of palace officials to control him and his wife, even though it put their safety at risk. "What I'm struggling to forgive, and what I will probably always struggle to forgive, is the decision that was made in 2020 that affects my every single day, and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harm's way," Harry said. A government committee decided in 2020 that Harry's security arrangements should be decided on a case-by-case basis whenever he visits the U.K. Harry said that the committee includes two representatives of Buckingham Palace who have blocked his security in the U.K. The king could resolve the security issue by stepping out of the way and letting experts make the decision, Harry added. In response to the court ruling, Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying that the issue had been meticulously examined by the courts "with the same conclusion reached on each occasion." Harry said that he loves his country and would love to show his young children his homeland, but now he only returns for funerals and court cases. "Other royals receive credible threats and face intense scrutiny, and they have all weathered these ghastly experiences admirably," Fordwich pointed out. "Both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III have been shot at. Luckily, both were with blanks… And Princess Anne survived a kidnapping attempt." But Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that if Meghan and Harry's concerns with royal life had been addressed early on, perhaps the family could have been more united today. "Many people… I have spoken to since have said they were not surprised Meghan left," he claimed. "They were expecting it to happen. Now, it is up to the king to find a way of allowing them all back." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to raise their children in the wealthy coastal city of article source: Meghan Markle admits to shattered dreams of royal motherhood while experts question Sussex family choices
